by Yiming Zhao 趙怡茗

Every year, days after the Spring equinox, many Chinese families would gather together to visit the tombs of their ancestors to clean the gravesites. Qingming Festival, also known as the tomb-sweeping day is the opportunity for many Chinese families to pay respect to their passed loved ones, burn joss paper and display tea, food, and flowers by the tombstones. Dating back to 636 BC, the holiday has long been an important part of Chinese culture and has been declared a national holiday in mainland China since 2008. Many Chinese families now living in the America also carry on the tradition.

However, due to the outbreak of Covid-19, the traditional gathering of family members at the cemetery will not be possible this year, following an emergency announcement by Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker that social gatherings of more than 25 people is prohibited.

In past years, Alan MacKinnon, president of The Gardens Cemetery, had put out tents, tables, chairs, and special burning barrel just for burning joss at locations where people usually meet during the festival.

“We try to provide comfort and hospitality for our families,” MacKinnon said. “This year is kind of hard and it makes me sad.”

There are still people planning to come to the cemetery during Qingming to pay respect, but it will only be six to eight immediate family members, according to MacKinnon. He said he would allow people to self-govern. “[If] they are close together, I won’t go up and say ‘hey you’re not six feet [apart].’ I’m not the Covid-19 police.”

The Gardens Cemetery has put out a health and safety guideline regarding the coronavirus on their website. All his employees will be issued four gloves daily, and they’re not allowed to share utility vehicles.

“I have a house here [at the cemetery],” said MacKinnon. “One [of my staff] is in my house, one person is in the front room, I’m in the backroom, and we don’t let anybody come to the office. We don’t have a public restroom at this time.”

Whenever there is a service, the staff will enter 10 minutes after everyone has left, and wipe everything with disinfectants while staying ten feet away from fellow staff members.

“We’re trying to be as safe as we can, so we can continue to serve our families,” said MacKinnon.

Lola Tom, the manager of Asian services at Hamel-Lydon Chapel & Cremation Service of Massachusetts expressed that Qingming will have to be delayed, but not canceled. The Hamel-Lydon chapel has been serving the Chinese and Vietnamese communities in Quincy since 1932. Tom is now working with clients to proceed with burials and cremations; however, she will be postponing the memorials for a later time.

“There’s definitely an impact in terms of traditional Chinese funerals,” Tom said. “It is a large gathering. It’s always [about] seeing that person one last time and bow three times out of respect. That’s not possible these days, but people have been really understanding.”